Long may she run: 12-year love affair comes to an end

I recently found out that my love affair I’ve been carrying on since March 2004 is coming to an end. My heart is totally broken, and I’m trying to figure out what to do next.

As of now I haven’t made any decisions. I know that I must act on this matter and take some sort of action. The real problem is I just don’t know what to do.

When I found out the affair was ending, I didn’t tell anyone. I kept it all to myself. I felt my blood pressure rising – in fact, my doctor had to put me on other blood pressure medication due to this situation.

I haven’t been sleeping well. I just don’t know what to do.

I finally decided to come clean and tell my wife Sharon that the affair was coming to an end. It’s not as if she didn’t know about it, and I knew deep inside she was giddy.

And I knew it would be a hard conversation, because Sharon wouldn’t show me any sympathy at all.

For the better part of the past decade Sharon has pleaded with me to end the relationship. I just couldn’t bring myself to end it, though I knew deep down it was the right thing to do.

What made the decision even harder was the fact that up until very recently it was truly a beautiful relationship – virtually no problems between us.

Hardly a day went by during our 12-year affair that I didn’t take my love for a ride at least once a day.

Never once did we have any serious issues come between us. Oftentimes, we would take long rides together, not going anywhere in particular.

If there was an errand to run or an appointment to go to, she was always by my side.

Some of the best memories I have of our time together was aimlessly driving on a Sunday afternoon with the radio turned down low.

And I always took good care of her, even letting her stay in the garage up until a few years ago when Sharon finally had enough and kicked her out.

It’s not as if I wanted her all to myself, mind you. Many times I asked Sharon to join us. I was willing to share our precious time together with Sharon, but almost always she’d turn me down flat.

Unfortunately, Sharon just never warmed up to my “other woman,” a 2004 Ford Mustang ragtop. You see, Sharon doesn’t like my car. She never liked it from the day I got it back in March 2004.

Her biggest complaint: Whenever she’d ride in it her hair would get messed up.

The 2004 edition of the Ford Mustang also happened to be the 40th Anniversary edition. It’s been a very special car to me – and to Ford. It was the last year that Ford made the Mustang that looked like the first Mustang.

I guess after 40 years Ford decided it was time for a change, and in 2005 they did just that and changed the Mustang’s look.

In the 12 years that I’ve had this wonderful car I have only put 68,000 miles on her. I make sure I keep up with the scheduled oil changes, tire rotations and everything else that the owners manual recommends.

And this wonderful car has responded to my love and affection by staying in shape and never breaking down on me.

But in the last month or so the bad news has started to roll in. During the rainy season this past summer the rear window started to leak. After going to a number of shops I discovered that no one would fix the window without replacing the entire roof at a cost of over $900.

But there was nothing wrong with the roof.

I recently bought her new front brakes, and now I found out she needs rear brakes, too.

Another $200.

And just the other day I felt a hesitation in my baby when I stepped on the gas. So off to the shop we went. They told me my baby blew a cylinder and it would cost over $1,000 to fix it.

Of course, Sharon couldn’t be happier. She knows my love affair is coming to an end.

It’s very hard to say goodbye to someone or something you love. But I do realize I must say goodbye to my beloved Mustang.

Rest in peace, my dear.

About Ernie Zimmerman

Ernie, a retired New York City police officer and Vietnam veteran, takes life nice and easy in Wellington, where he and his wife Sharon have lived for more than 30 years.

2 comments

Ernie, shipmate, I know exactly how you feel losing something so precious. I lost my 1992 Dodge Dakota which now sits awaiting a new crate motor from MOPAR. At least you had it all to yourself. Without telling my wife of 47 years, bought a new Dodge Laramie assuage my grief losing my Dakota. I gave my 3 sons the phone number to U haul cause they ain’t getting my truck. You really need to check out new trucks, mine rides like a Cadillac, 4 × 4 . I wish you luck getting whatever vehicle YOU WANT. Smooth sailing and following seas in your quest from a fellow Nam vet.

Dam American cars don’t last too long
Had a VW Scirocco that lasted 13 years till my son wrecked it down in Fla. and had a 2001 Acura that lasted 14 years till my daughter wrecked it down in Florida. Now I lease cars. I won’t be having any time for long term affairs only to see the car waste away. Yup, new car every 3 years. Life is good. I’m lucky.